A stressed mom asked her six year old daughter to return thanks for the elaborate meal she had prepared for their special company. The little girl replied, “I wouldn’t know what to say.” “Just pray what you hear mommy praying.” said Mom. The little girl bowed her head and said, “Lord, why did I invite all these people to dinner.”
At least the little girl was honest. But this mom could have avoided such an embarrassing moment by learning to create simpler meals. Creating a full course meal on fine china for a group of guests is a high stress event. And it’s often unnecessary and even counterproductive for good fellowship.
When you ask friends over for an elaborate meal, they think they have to prepare an elaborate meal before they can return the favor. The result is fewer visits and a lot more stress.
Jesus once exhorted his host to focus on the people, not the formalities. He knew that simple meals were a better way to redeem the time.
Rick Grubbs is best known as the host of “Redeeming the Time,” a one-minute radio program featured on hundreds of radio outlets around the world. He has spoken thousands of times on Biblical time management in all 50 states and 26 other countries. He is the author of the book “Morning Momentum: God’s plan for launching an unstoppable day”. He and his wife Carrie live in Salisbury NC with several of their 12 children.
